News

YouTuber Fidias Panayiotou apologises for controversial Japan video

Published

2 years ago

October 25, 2023

Popular YouTuber Fidias Panayiotou has issued an apology after his video titled “I Travelled Across Japan For Free” stirred controversy and anger among locals.

The video, which showcased his attempts to evade train fares and skip paying a five-star hotel breakfast bill, garnered nearly half a million views.

Some outraged viewers took to social media, calling for his arrest, while rail authorities are contemplating potential legal actions against him.

In Japan, good manners and respect for societal norms are highly valued, making pranks or actions perceived as disrespectful strongly frowned upon.

Saying sorry

On Tuesday, the Cypriot YouTuber expressed his remorse, saying, “Hello beautiful people, I apologize to the Japanese people if we made them feel bad; that was not our goal,” as his video went viral over the weekend.

Fidias Panayiotou identifies himself as a “professional mistake maker” on his YouTube channel, which boasts 2.4 million subscribers. The controversial Japan video featured three others and was part of a $10,000 (£8,216) challenge.

In one instance, the video shows him hiding in a bullet train restroom and pretending to be unwell when confronted by a conductor. He then flees to board another train and repeats the stunt.

Mr. Panayiotou also solicits bus fare from a stranger but falls short by 80 yen (£0.44; $0.53). The bus driver locks him in the vehicle and transports him to a police station, where he is detained for five hours before being released.

Later in the video, he impersonates a hotel guest to enjoy a complimentary breakfast. While addressing the camera, he boasts, “And we’re leaving the hotel without getting caught and without any problem.”

The exact date of the video’s filming and whether Mr. Panayiotou and his companions are still in Japan remain unclear.

News

Ukraine and Russia set for U.S.-brokered peace talks in Abu Dhabi

Published

10 hours ago

February 2, 2026

Harvey Vargas

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has confirmed that new peace talks with Russia will take place in Abu Dhabi later this week. The discussions are part of U.S.-led efforts to find a path toward ending the ongoing war.

Zelenskyy emphasised that Ukraine is prepared for meaningful dialogue aimed at achieving peace. The announcement comes after weeks of uncertainty over the timing of the meeting.

U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff described prior discussions with Russian officials as productive, though major disagreements over territorial issues remain unresolved.

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News

Tensions rise as Iran threatens conflict and U.S. increases naval forces

Iran warns of regional conflict, labels European armies terrorists; U.S. boosts naval presence as both sides consider negotiations.

Published

11 hours ago

February 2, 2026

Harvey Vargas

Iran warns of regional conflict, labels European armies terrorists; U.S. boosts naval presence as both sides consider negotiations.

Iran has warned of a potential regional conflict if the U.S. launches an attack, while labelling European armies as terrorists. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei insisted that threats from President Trump will not intimidate the Iranian people.

The U.S. has ramped up its naval presence in the Middle East in response to mounting threats, amid speculation over Iran’s next moves. Iranian officials have denied claims of imminent naval exercises in the Strait of Hormuz, adding to global uncertainty.

#MiddleEastCrisis #IranUS #Geopolitics #NavalTensions #Trump #AyatollahKhamenei #EuropeanUnion #GlobalConflict

News

Carlos Alcaraz becomes youngest man to complete career Grand Slam

Carlos Alcaraz, at 22, stuns tennis by winning the Australian Open, defeating Djokovic, and celebrating with a kangaroo tattoo.

Published

12 hours ago

February 2, 2026

Harvey Vargas

Carlos Alcaraz, at 22, stuns tennis by winning the Australian Open, defeating Djokovic, and celebrating with a kangaroo tattoo.

Carlos Alcaraz has stunned the tennis world by winning the Australian Open, becoming the youngest man to complete a Career Grand Slam at just 22 years old.

The world number one beat Novak Djokovic in a thrilling four-set match, finishing 2-6, 6-2, 6-3, 7-5. Djokovic missed out on claiming his 25th Grand Slam title. To mark the milestone, Alcaraz revealed he plans to add a new tattoo of a kangaroo on his leg, joining his existing Eiffel Tower and Wimbledon strawberry tattoos.

#CarlosAlcaraz #AustralianOpen #GrandSlam #TennisHistory #NovakDjokovic #SportsNews #TennisTattoo #YoungChampion